On February 28, Premier Oil started drilling operations in the Bluebell prospect in the UK Central North Sea, using Transocean’s Sedco 704 semi-submersible drilling rig.
Today, Canadian Overseas Petroleum Limited announced that drilling in the Bluebell prospect that spans Blocks 15/24c and 15/25f failed to encounter any commercial volumes of hydrocarbons.
Seismic AVO analysis suggested that one of two situations would be encountered with this well: either an oil-bearing sand with normal porosity or a water-bearing sand with higher than normal porosity. The 15/24c-10 well encountered a thick sand that had higher than predicted porosity and was water-bearing with only minor hydrocarbon shows.
The well is currently being plugged and will be abandoned. The well was originally estimated to take approximately 30 days to drill but because of favourable weather and drilling conditions, the time was significantly shorter, thus resulting in lower than budgeted costs.
Simon Lockett, Premier Oil’s Chief Executive Officer , commented:
“We recognised the geological risks of the Bluebell prospect and farmed down prior to drilling to manage this exposure.
[mappress] Offshore Energy Today Staff, March 9, 2012